The secret to keep your appliances running smoothly is cleanliness, Many appliances malfunction due to “goo, dust  and gunk.” It doesn’t really take much time and effort to clean them. By doing so, you can extend their lifespan by years.

• Ceiling Fan: You are in trouble If the blades are wobbling. This wears out the motor a lot faster. Dust off the tops of the blades and tighten the screws to make sure everything is locked into place.

• Air conditioner: Its coils need to be cleaned every once in a while. Remove the filter cover and run a vacuum brush over the coils. Clean the filter or replace it depending on what kind of model you have.

• Stove and Oven: Gas stoves need to be kept clean to ensure burners and igniters will keep on for years. Use a warm cloth and a bit of dish soap to get them spic and span. The super-high-temperature can be hard on your oven’s wiring and electrical components, so using the self-cleaning feature should be avoided. What you should do, after using the oven, wait until it’s cool enough to touch but still warm and wipe it down with a moist cloth.

• Dishwasher: Take out the racks and check the corners and the rubber lining around the door for cracks and food residue. Use a sponge and plastic-bristled brush (don’t use metal as it can damage the machine) to clean your dishwasher. Check the owner’s manual and remove the spray arms and wash them with soap and water. Carefully remove the filter basket (if you have) and give it a rinse as well. Slide your hand in the filter hole to check for debris. Put them back together and run the machine empty with a bit of detergent.

• Vacuum: Every year you should swap its filters and bags. For bagless model, wipe out the canister with a sponge. To test it’s suction power, try to vacuum up a bit of sand and see if it sucks up the majority of it. If so, your vacuum is in good shape and if not, take it to a local repair shop. If your vacuum got a motor issues, it is better to buy a new one because repairing it is more expensive.

• Refrigerator: Like the air conditioner, its coils need cleaning as well. The coils tend to clogged with dust which can make it hard for the compressor fan to circulate fresh air. To make them clear, unplug the machine, get down on the floor and pull out the vent plate that covers the coils. Use a vacuum hose to clean the coils.Also, wipe down the door gasket as with a warm damp cloth to make sure there’s no sticky build-up there. This can cause the gasket to tear and inhibit your machine’s ability to refrigerate.